Sites of imprisonment and the stories of those imprisoned.
This medieval castle in the middle of Ghent was once used as a prison, where those locked up were subjected to various methods of torture to confess to their crimes. Travel Darkly visits the castle’s torture museum for thumb screws, stretching racks and unhappy dioramas…
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Gravensteen Castle and Torture Museum, Ghent, Belgium
Millbank Prison, which once overlooked the Thames, housed convicts destined for Australia. The building was demolished to make way for Tate Britain but some cells remain beneath the Morpeth Arms. Travel Darkly went to investigate…
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Millbank Prison, PoMs and the Morpeth Arms, London
Ely Museum is situated in what was once the old Bishop’s Gaol where prisoners were chained to the floor to stop them escaping. There’s also a dead Roman soldier by the door. Travel Darkly went to take a look at this charming museum in Ely…
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Ely Museum and Ely Bishop’s Gaol, Ely, England
Born in York, Fawkes was one of thirteen Catholics who conspired to blow up King James I in the 1605 Gunpowder Plot and after which were hanged at Westminster. Here’s how to visit Fawkes-related places…
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Guy Fawkes and the Gunpowder Plot of November 5th 1605
Huge crowds once gathered outside the gatehouse of Bristol’s prison to see criminals hanged for their crimes. Travel Darkly visits what’s left of the jail, located just behind Bristol harbourside…
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New Gaol, Bristol, England
In August 1612 eleven people were sentenced at Lancaster castle to ‘hang until they be dead.’ They had been accused and found guilty of witchcraft. Travel Darkly went on the trail of the Pendle Witches visiting Pendle Hill, the Pendle Heritage Centre and Lancaster Castle…
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Lancaster Castle and the Pendle Witches
In the twelfth century the Jewish community of York committed suicide in a tower which still stands in the centre of the city. Find out why and how to visit…
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Clifford’s Tower, York, England